[auld argonian]

I'm in between rodding out my drains here at home but thought that I'd try to give you a quick re-cap of yesterday's soggy events at Chicago's Celtic Fest.

I didn't get there until about 2PM and through the miracle of modern cell-telephony managed to meet up with Galician (David) shortly thereafter. We wandered around in the pouring rain trying in vain to keep our Guinness from getting watered down...they should give you sippy-lids with those, I swear. David mentioned that Mark and Rob had been there earlier bit had ducked out for a bit and were coming back.

We managed to get under some cover at the Nova Scotia Gathering tent where the Stockyard Kilty Band valiantly managed to play in spite of being under a very leaky tent...I started up a conversation with a fella from the SYKB who turned out to be Dave McKee, Jr. The McKee's are a sort of a famous SYKB dynasty so that was pretty cool. And I mean it when I say that they were toughing it out by playing...it was pishing and they were dodging several dozen dramatic leaks in that tent.

http://www.sykb.com/

...so anyway...my wife and daughter got back from exchanging our White Sox tickets for the game that got rained out this past Friday evening for tickets for the game that will, no doubt, be rained out tonight...we had been invited to attend an event held by the Nova Scotia tourism folks and my wife suggested that David might want to come long. The Nova Scotia folks were quite hospitable and put out a darn fine spread...crab cakes, salmon, lobster salad...an impressive culinary demonstration of their natural resources including some Moosehead brewskis...

...and, speaking of brewskis...who turns up at this juncture but our own Brewboy! He turned on the charm and the Nova Scotia people once again demonstrated their hospitality and he was in! More Mooseheads! More crab cakes! More of those remarkable Nova Scotia and Cape Breton musicians...those guys are, without exception, fantastic.

We marched over from this private event back to the Nova Scotia Gathering tent for more tuneage. David and Rob eventually went over to the big stage to see Great Big Sea while my family and me just stayed at the Gathering tent. Headed back home shortly thereafter...in more rain.

It never stopped raining...

I really feel sorry for the musicians who would have had a better crowd and the vendors who really had to contend with a sparse attendance because of the weather. I wish that there had been a plan B to relocate the fest in case of weather. I note that there were several other events going on all over the US and Canada this weekend and hope that they had slightly better weather. Top that off with the fact that some folks are getting absolutely lambasted by the weather this weekend...we just got wet, some f them got flooded out.

Here's to the brave few who came and stayed...maybe next year...

Best

AA

[beloitpiper]

Man, I really wish I could've gone. Curse you, Tlaloc!

[McFarkus]

I had planned to come back, but was tired of all the rain.

[Standard]

Instead of going to the Celtic fest in the rain with you guys we had our first backpacking training hike for our upcoming trek to Philmont next summer. It rained for about 42 straight hours down here. Hope you all kept your kilts drier than we kept our packs.

[Nighthawk]

That actually sounds like a lot of fun. I wish I could have gone.

[Brewboy]

Celtic Fest Update:

After a very wet first day, including a Great Big Sea concert where they broke into "Singin' In The Rain", because that's exactly what they were doing-one of the boys got shocked by a wet mic-Galician and I retired back to my place to meet up with some friends of mine and switch from Celtic culture to Indian culture (look for the picture of us in lungis).

We planned on heading to the fest on the next day, even though rain was again predicted. How could good Celtic weather keep us from a Celtic Festival? I eventually got in touch with Galician, who had lost his cell phone the day before, and we decided to meet at the fest. We met only to discover that the fest had been closed down. Apparently, so much rain had come down that pooling water was shorting out the electricity. Galician and I decided to have our own Celtic Fest over at the Chicago Rabble's favorite meeting place, the Duke of Perth. Then it was on to the airport and back to New York for our honored guest. Not the most ideal, but definitely an interesting and enjoyable Celtic Fest.

Many thanks go to auld argonian and his wife for getting us into the Fly Nova Scotia tent (he says my charm got me in, but they didn't let me in until he came over). Not only did he provide a dry place with music, but also one with free food and drink. On Saturday I very much wanted to go see the various acts and vendors at the fest, but couldn't bring myself to leave the dry tent filled with good music, good food, and good people.

[Galician]

Let me add my thanks to AA and his wife, for so graciously thinking to include us in the Canadian consulate's event. It was a MUCH needed respite from the rain, and the food was fantastic. I really got a kick out of the maple-leaf cookies coming in red or white.

It was a pleasure to meet you and your wonderful family, and I appreciate the company you gave me that day.

[auld argonian]

...and shades of Brigadoon...yesterday, while on migratory bird recovery duty, I walked right through the section of the park where last weekend's Fest was held...and it was if it had never been there at all!

Is it magic or the efficiency of our crack Chicago Park District employees?

The world will never know.....

Best

AA